VX220 Installation

Posted by: snoopstah

VX220 Installation - 14/04/2005 15:34

Hey Guys,

Just finished off my install in my VX220. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the VX220, it's a stripped-down two-seater made by Vauxhall, but based on the Lotus Elise (and built in the Lotus factory).

It's not an easy car to install into - it has a DIN slot, but due to the exposed aluminium interior and compactness of the passenger cabin, it's very hard to do a professional looking install. Given as this was my first ever install too, I'm pretty chuffed with how it's turned out!

System comprises of an Empeg Mk2a, hooked up to an Audison LRx 4.300 amplifier, which is driving a JL 10W6 subwoofer and some PPI 17cm components.

All installed without drilling a single hole, and with no visible cables - indeed, it's so stealth I have no worries about leaving the roof off in town.

Tweeter location:



Tweeters from inside:



Head unit:



All that's visible of the sub:



Speaker locations:



Amp and mahoosive crossovers:



Sub:
Posted by: AudunE

Re: VX220 Installation - 14/04/2005 16:31

Very nice!!
Posted by: JBjorgen

Re: VX220 Installation - 14/04/2005 17:51

For the other USians, looks like this:
Posted by: FireFox31

Re: VX220 Installation - 14/04/2005 23:17

Wow, very nice. Heck, I'd be nervous to leave the top off for fear someone'd jump in and steal the whole car. That thing looks pretty darn cool... and fast. Nice install.

(by the subject, I thought you were installing a cell phone into your car; of the LG variety, that is)
Posted by: Shonky

Re: VX220 Installation - 15/04/2005 04:12

Nice. When I first read the digest, I was thinking XJ220 (Jaguar)!

How does it go having the components split so far apart (i.e. midbasses behind you and the tweeters in front)?

You mention no hole cutting - are all the speakers in factory locations?
Posted by: snoopstah

Re: VX220 Installation - 15/04/2005 04:26

Quote:
Nice. When I first read the digest, I was thinking XJ220 (Jaguar)!

Heh, I wish!

Quote:
How does it go having the components split so far apart (i.e. midbasses behind you and the tweeters in front)?

It's not perfect - the soundstage is too far back really. If I wanted to go all out, it would be easy enough to get some three-way components and sink the mids into the dashboard as well.

However, it's not the sort of car where I'm bothered about having a perfect install - it's got no soundproofing, so by the time you get over about 30mph you don't notice where everything's coming from so much. I was reluctant to add too much in the way of soundproofing etc. simply due ot the fact that the thing that makes the car so much fun is that it's as light as a feather - start adding extra speakers, dynamat, etc, and it feels like you're going against the concept of the vehicle.

Having said that, it still sounds pretty damn good in my opinion

Quote:
You mention no hole cutting - are all the speakers in factory locations?

Midbass are in the factory locations, sub is resting on the 'parcel shelf', and tweeters are stuck in place with velcro, with the wires run under the dash.
Posted by: RobotCaleb

Re: VX220 Installation - 18/04/2005 19:07

Holy blue!

Nice car, btw.
Posted by: mlord

Re: VX220 Installation - 18/04/2005 20:37

Great looking install, and a super vehicle for it!

Cheers
Posted by: jarob10

Re: VX220 Installation - 19/04/2005 06:56

Quote:
sub is resting on the 'parcel shelf', and tweeters are stuck in place with velcro


You may have better luck than me, but I have run into problems with speakers that are not properly 'tied down' to the car chassis.
Posted by: snoopstah

Re: VX220 Installation - 19/04/2005 07:08

The tweeters aren't going anywhere, the velcro is rated to something silly like 10kg vertically, and it's holding about 50g horizontally.

The sub is a slight concern in the event of an accident, but it really doesn't have any room to move at all - both seats are wedging it into place. So it doesn't have any room to build up momentum in a head-on collision.

Nothing moves at all in 'spirited' driving.
Posted by: schofiel

Re: VX220 Installation - 13/05/2005 07:34

Bring it to the empeg meet in July, you could easily win the install prize.
Posted by: Schido

Re: VX220 Installation - 13/05/2005 09:45

Oh man, no price for worst install this year? I was so looking forward too winning that!
Posted by: FireFox31

Re: VX220 Installation - 13/05/2005 23:57

Quote:
easily

Hm, not so easily if Hugo brings his Noble with remote mounted mini empeg display. ... if he ever completed it, that is. Ah, good times at the empeg meet.
Posted by: clsmith

Re: VX220 Installation - 15/05/2005 01:26

Well done all around!

What type of mount is that you have the iPaq in?
Posted by: snoopstah

Re: VX220 Installation - 15/05/2005 07:10

Not sure who makes it, but I got it from here:

http://www.dashmount.co.uk/

The cradle is a TomTom one.
Posted by: waveyb

Re: VX220 Installation - 17/08/2005 10:04

Hi I have just got a vx220 and i want to change the standard speakers, can you give me some pointers on how to replace them and any recommendations on speakers to replace the standard ones.

Thanks
Posted by: snoopstah

Re: VX220 Installation - 17/08/2005 10:58

Is yours a 2.2 (NA) or 2.0 (Turbo)?

Changing the speakers on both is pretty easy - the hardest part is getting to the passenger-side one, as the seat isn't adjustable.

Standard 17cm speakers will fit in both cars, but the mounting depth needs to be less than 65mm, which limits the choice somewhat. There are still a bunch of options available though. Coaxials are far easier to fit, as you don't have to run wiring to the front of the car for tweeters, but drag the soundstage back even further.

Removing the old speakers is pretty easy - on the turbo there are four visible screws on the grilles, just remove these and out the speaker comes. On the NA, the screws are hidden behind the grilles, so you need to remove them - you'll need something to lever them out, but be aware that you're levering the grill out from the round plastic surround, NOT the plastic surround from the car panel.

There's loads more info on the vx220.org.uk forums, worth checking if you haven't looked already.

Let me know if you have any more questions.